Chapter 82

It was when the three of them were hugging each other.

Thump, thump, thump, thump. The sound of someone stomping up the inn's stairs could be heard.

(Who could be ruining our family time like this?)

Although it wasn't intentional, Leda couldn't help but frown, feeling as if the mood had been ruined. Her daughters seemed to feel the same way, exchanging glances as if wondering what was going on.

"Hey, this is so noisy."

Luna, wiping her tears with her sleeve, voiced her complaint. The guests at this inn were supposed to be well-mannered. No one would deliberately stomp up the stairs like this. Wondering if something had happened, Leda tried to check what was going on outside the room.

"Is Leda Dixon here! I'm Amanda Rowe! I'm a staff member of the Recovery Guild! I have something to talk to you about!"

She was definitely being called out. The looks from her daughters were piercing. Luna, in particular, was pouting, as if to say, "Is it another woman?" Unfortunately, Leda had no idea who this Amanda was.

However, the name "Recovery Guild" rang a bell. It was the organization Leda least wanted to have anything to do with right now.

"Oh... no way."

"What's the Recovery Guild? Dad?"

"I don't know."

"Interrupting our cuddle time with Dad? That's a capital offense!"

Luna, upset at having their family time disrupted, stood up to see who was causing the commotion—knife in hand.

"Well, I didn't want to get involved with the Recovery Guild, but I can't let the inn suffer because of my inaction. I'll go."

"Leave it to me, Dad. If things get rough, I'll use the knife, okay?"

"No, that's not acceptable."

Ruffling Luna's hair to reprimand her for her violent suggestion, Leda opened the door and peered into the hallway.

"Hey, Leda, don't come out. It'll complicate things!"

"Tex?"

In the hallway, an unfamiliar woman was being restrained by Leda's friend, the adventurer Tex. The woman, with her braids flying, was hysterically shouting. Leda didn't recognize her face either.

"Go back to your room! You don't need to get involved in this mess!"

"You must be Leda Dixon! I'm Amanda Rowe, a staff member of the Recovery Guild. I need to talk to you—"

"Please leave, you're causing a disturbance."

"Excuse me?"

Leda coldly interrupted Amanda.

"I said, I am—"

"I heard you. You're from the Recovery Guild, right?"

"Then let me—"

"No, I won't talk to anyone from the Recovery Guild."

"...Leda, you idiot. If you talk to her like that, this lady—"

Amanda, unable to get a word in edgewise, became furious at Leda's dismissive attitude.

"Leda Dixon! What do you think you're doing! I came all the way from the capital to this remote village!"

"I didn't ask for it."

"I'm trying to get you to join the Recovery Guild and become a proper healer! And you tell me to leave!?"

Amanda, spitting and shouting, made Leda sigh.

"Ah, so this is the type. Tex, could you please take her outside? This is causing trouble for everyone in the inn."

"O-Okay."

Tex, a bit surprised by Leda's calm and matter-of-fact approach, responded. He must have expected Leda to be more flustered by the hysterical woman's actions. Tex then dragged Amanda, who was trying to break free, out of the inn.

"Dad, what are you going to do about that lady?"

"She was a bit scary."

"I'm sorry about that. I'll get her to leave quickly. I have no intention of joining the Recovery Guild. No matter what they were in the past, they're just a bunch of money-hungry people now. I don't want to be associated with them."

With Amanda's angry shouts still audible, Leda, looking exasperated, followed Tex. The sisters exchanged glances and decided to follow Leda.